Gardeners in hot-summer areas need to choose their plants carefully. The wrong plants quickly burn out in summer heat. With all the annuals available, here are some of the best that resist heat:
Fibrous begonia (Begonia semperflorens)
- Full sun to shade. Moist, but well-drained soil is best.
- Glossy green or bronze foliage. Pink, reddish, or white flowers.
- Grows to 12 inches tall.
Floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum)
- Full sun and moist, but well-drained soil.
- Mid-green foliage and fluffy flowers in blue, lavender, pink, or white.
- Plants to 14 inches tall.
Four o'clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)
- Full sun. Moist, but well-drained soil is best. Can tolerate drought.
- Glossy foliage and fragrant flowers in pink, red, white, and yellow.
- Flowers don't open until afternoon hours. Grows to 2 feet tall.
- Perennial in Zones 8 to 10.
Gazania (Gazania spp.)
- Full sun. Moist, but well-drained soil is best.
- Glossy green foliage and daisylike flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, pink, and white.
- Grows to 8 inches tall.
- Perennial in Zones 8 to 10.
Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
- Partial to full shade. Moist soil.
- Bronze, green, or gray-green leaves. Blooms in most colors except true blue.
- Plants grow to 2 feet tall.
- Perennial in tropical areas.
Lantana (Lantana camara)
- Full sun. Tolerates drought well.
- Scented foliage and clusters of red, orange, yellow, pink, lavender, or white flowers that attract butterflies.
- Tends to resist deer, rabbits, and other critters.
- Various types can grow to 6 feet tall.
- Perennial in Zones 9 to 10.
Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
- Full sun. Tolerates drought well.
- Scented, dark-green leaves and red, orange, yellow, or creamy-white flowers.
- Various types grow from 6 to 48 inches tall.
Melampodium (Leucanthemum paludosum)
- Full sun. Moist, but well-drained soil.
- Gray-green leaves and yellow daisy-like flowers.
- Plants grow 6 to inches tall.
- Often sold as Melampodium paludosum
Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia)
- Full sun. Moist, but well-drained soil.
- Softly hairy foliage and bright-orange daisy-shaped flowers that attract butterflies.
- Plants grow to 6 feet tall.
Morning glory, moonflower (Ipomoea spp.)
- Full sun. Moist, but well-drained soil.
- Flowers in shades of blue, white, pink, red, and purple.
- Vines climb to 15 feet tall (taller if grown as perennials).
- Perennials in tropical areas.
Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora)
- Full sun. Tolerates drought well.
- Fleshy green foliage. Flowers in pink, purple, white, yellow, orange, or red.
- Grows to 6 inches tall.
Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)
- Full sun and moist, but well-drained soil is best.
- Hairy green leaves. Clusters of pink, red, or white flowers that attract butterflies.
- Various types can grow to 6 feet tall.
- Perennial in tropical areas.
Scaevola (Scaevola aemula)
- Full sun. Tolerates drought well.
- Dark-green foliage and fan-shaped blue, lavender, or white flowers.
- Spreading plants grow 6 inches tall and can spread to several feet across.
- Perennial in tropical areas.
Spider flower (Cleome hassleriana)
- Full sun and moist, but well-drained soil.
- Showy flowers in pink, purple, or white with long, spidery reproductive organs. Plants have hand-shaped foliage bearing small spines.
- Tends to resist deer, rabbits, and other critters.
- Various types grow to 6 feet tall.
Summer snapdragon (Angelonia angustiolia)
- Full sun. Moist, but well-drained soil.
- Narrow, dark-green leaves and racemes of purple, pink, or white flowers.
- Plants grow to 18 inches tall.
- Perennial in tropical areas.
Vinca (Catharanthus roseus)
- Full sun and moist, but well-drained soil is best. Can tolerate drought.
- Shiny, dark-green leaves and showy flowers in shades of red, pink, lavender, and white.
- Tends to resist deer, rabbits, and other critters.
- Various types can grow to 2 feet tall.
- Perennial in tropical areas.